Antiques Roadshow guest barely reacts at true value of Wimbledon trophy

Daily Mirror

a day ago

An Antiques Roadshow expert shared an unexpected personal connection to a guest's "exceptional" trophy.
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest brought along his grandfather's remarkable Wimbledon memorabilia, estimated to fetch a handsome sum.
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Jon Baddley was the expert in charge who encountered a man bearing historic mementos from a former Wimbledon sensation amidst another shoot for the BBC favourite.
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Spotting Norman Brooks in a framed picture, dubbed "the father of Australian tennis", the expert enquired about the man's connection with him.
"He's my grandfather. In his tennis career, he won many, many events but he won Wimbledon in 1907, being the first foreigner to win Wimbledon which was considered a mammoth effort because the British weren't going to let it go easily."
Norman Brooks wasn't just a one-time victor though as he took victory at the prestigious international contest again seven years later in 1914.
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"We believe this trophy and the 1914 are the only full size replicas in existence", he said.
"Other than that, everyone else has only got miniatures. I think that was borne out due to the fact they never expected to lose in 1907, so they just made another one, as it were."
The guest then noted a period where no other players outside Britain had won: "Then from there to 1914, there was no one outside Britain that won it.
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"Even Tony Wilding, who was a New Zealander, he lived in Britain, right? So he got a miniature.
"But grandfather got, we believe, the only two full sized replicas and even when we inquired at Wimbledon, they didn't even know."
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Baddley interjected: "Which makes it exceptional, because I have to say, when I initially saw it, I just thought 'Well somebody's stolen it, [and] bought it over here. But exceptionally rare. Yes."
He then queried if his grandfather had also clinched the 1907 doubles, to which the guest confirmed: "Yes, he won the doubles in 1907 which was the maiden year as they say, from the point of view that he was the first man to win it but he won the singles and the doubles, which was quite staggering really."
Baddley proceeded to evaluate the impressive collection, stating: "Purely in financial terms, I would have thought the doubles jug is going to be worth, to a collector, let's put it that way, well in excess of $20,000 or £8,000."
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Examining a worn racket, the expert enquired if it was the one used in one of the championships, but the guest confessed uncertainty.
"But certainly used by him, it's probably $5,000 or £2,000," Baddley estimated.
The moment arrived to assess the centrepiece, the renowned Wimbledon trophy replica.
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Baddley declared: "But what's this worth? I mean, only one other replica known, which you also own, and obviously the original is at Wimbledon, but a massively important trophy to tennis enthusiasts.
"It's difficult to come up with a price but I think at auction, you're talking about a figure well in excess of $75,000 or £30,000. So a fantastic piece."
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The guest, unfazed by the whopping estimate, solemnly stated: "I believe grandfather believed these belong to Australia, not an individual."
When Baddley mooted the idea of donating it to a sporting museum, the guest expressed his agreement and preference.
In a personal twist, the expert revealed his own familial ties to the trophy: "I also have a personal interest in this, because, I don't know if you have noticed but, if I can pick it up here, on the side there is 1893. W Bradley, Wilfrey Bradley.
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"Well my name's John Badley. And he's a distant relation of mine.", he disclosed, connecting him to the artefact's history.
Upon hearing this, the guest exclaimed: "How wonderful."
Baddley, embracing the moment, quipped: "So I hope you don't mind if I give it a quick kiss", affectionately pecking the coveted award to the guest's merriment.
Then, embracing Wimbledon tradition, Badley hoisted the trophy aloft as he announced: "And then I do the classic", earning applause from spectators.
To which the guest beamed: "That's wonderful Jon", before Baddley humorously hinted: "I'll take it with me now", playfully pretending to abscond with the prestigious trophy, eliciting laughter all around.